Musical instrument



Jan. 19, 1932. ER 1,841,397-

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed July 8, 1929 wzmywm MA T'TORNEY Patented Jan.19, 1932 PATENT OFFICE EDWIN BERGH, F STERLING, ILLINOIS MUSICALINSTRUMENT Application filed July 8, 1929. Serial No. 376,528.

My invention has reference to musical instruments, and pertains moreespecially'to that class of such devices which are provided withstrings, such as violins, cellos, and the like. The chief purpose of theinvention is to produce a simple and inexpensive substitute for theinstruments mentioned, which can be played in the same manner, and withaclose imitation of the tones of the other instruments.

The chief characteristic of the invention consists in the provision of abody portion of reduced dimensions, and which is channeled or hollowedout in one of its sides, leaving a more or less shell-like body. Anotherfeature thereof consists in forming the body, finger-board, andkey-piece, or head of the instrument of a single piece of material.

Another purpose of the invention is to render the same readily adaptablefor use by persons of different ages and sizes. This is accomplished bymeans of an adjustable endpiece by means of which the length of theinstrument may be increased or diminished,

? as desired.

Another novelty of the device consists in so forming the body of theinstrument that the bridge which supports the strings will projectlittle higher than the body of the intrument and finger-piece, as aresult of which the strings will be in substantially parallel relationwith said parts, and in proximity thereto.

The above named, and other features and advantages of the invention willmore fully appear from the following specification, taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a plan view of theinvention.

Fig. 2 shows the same in side elevation.

Fig. 3 is a lower edge view thereof.

The reference number 1 indicates the body portion of one embodiment ofthe invention, such as would be designed as a substitute for a violin,which body portion is of block formation, one cross-section diameter ofwhich is substantially twice that of the other one, although theproportions shown can be varied considerably without affecting theresults which it is desired to attain. Said body portion is projectedatone end into a combined neck and finger-piece 2, ending in a recessedhead 3, holding a plurality of keys 4. The

body 1 is also channeled on one side, forming a cavity extendinginwardly as .far as the broken line 5 in Fig. 2, and leaving a pair ofthin walls at the sides, as at 1". The depth and shape of the cavity canbe varied from that shown, however, without affecting the generalpurpose of the invention.

At that end opposite to the finger-piece the body l-is cut away, andprovided with an inclined face 6, at the inner end of which is anarcuate recess 7. The body 1, neck 2, and

head 3 are integrally formed, and are preferably produced from awell-seasoned piece of wood. Othermaterials may be made use of, however,forthe production thereof.

A bridge 8 is held in a cross-channel in the bridge can be adjusted withvarying effects upon the spacing of the strings with reference to thebody, and on the character of the tones of said strings. The instrumentis played in the usual manner by means of a how, the recess 7 affordingclearance for said bow in its operation. Itwill be noted that on accountof the bridge 8 being supported in the depression 7 the upper part ofthe bridge is very little above the upper edge of the body 1, as aresult of which the strings 10 are positioned near such edge and nearthe neck 2, sothat the fingering can be done directly on the neck andthat part of the body adjacent thereto, and a separate finger-piece,such as is in common use with violin, is omitted. The instrument isprovided with an adjustable end-piece 15, by means of which the lengthof the instrument may be varied from a half size to a three-quartersize, or to a full size, the last-named being the equivalent of IOU thatof a violin of standard size. The endpiece is provided with a tongue 16,at right angles therewith, and slidable in a channel 17 in the end ofthe body 1. The tongue 16 is also fitted with a slot 18, engaging a bolt19 passing through the body 1 and pro vided on one of its ends with athumb-nut 20. By turning said nut downwardly the body portion at thesides of the channel 17 is clamped against the tongue, holding the samein adjusted position. F or the shortest length of the instrument theend-piece 15 is held against the end of the body 1. The bridge 8 can bechanged in position, to accommodate the same to variations in the lengthof the instrument. The end-piece 15 can be used as a chin-piece, or itmay be employed for the support of a chin-rest of usual type, such as isshown at 21 in Fig. 2.

liile the instrun'ient has been set forth herein as being of a violinconstruction, chan can be made in the proportions thereof to adapt thesame to use a cello or other stringed lllStlUll'lGDt, and for use inother ways than with a bow, as for operation by the fingers, or with apick.

On account of the low cost at which the invention can be produced andits adaptability for use by persons of different sizes, it is of specialservice as a practice instrument for use by students in schools in whichthe violin is taught, enabling each of the students to possess one ofthe instruments, whereas the possession of a standard violin for suchpurposes is frequently prohibited on account of the relatively high costthereof.

The space formed in the body of the instrument can be conveniently usedfor carrying a handkerchief or other small article, and in the case oflarger instruments, such as the cello, they can be arranged to containthe bow when not in use.

lVhat I claim, and desire to secure by Let ters Patent, is:

l. A musical instrument, comprising a body member hollowed out in one ofits sides, and having a cut-away portion at one of its ends, a combinedneck and finger-piece at the opposite end, a head at the end of saidneck and linger-piece, and keys held in said head, said body member,combined neck and finger-piece, and said head being integrally formed, astring support on said cut-away portion, a tail-piece in proximitythereto, held in the end of the body member, and a series of stringsconnected with said keys at one end and with said tail-piece at theother end, and passing over said support.

2. A musical instrument, comprising a shell-like body member having acut-away portion near one of .its ends, a neck at the opposite end ofsaid body member and keys at the end thereof, a tail-piece at the end ofthe cut-away portion adapted to hold a series of strings in proximity tosaid neck, a series of strings connected at their ends to said keys andtail-piece, respectively, and passing over said support, and anextension for said body member, forming a chin-rest.

3. A musical instrument, comprising a block-like body member hollowedout in one of its sides, a neck therefor forming a fingerpiece, stringsupports at the outer end of said neck, means for supporting a series ofstrings in proximity to said neck, an end-piece provided with a tonguehaving a slidable con nection with the body member, and means forholding said tongue in adjusted positions.

4. In a stringed musical instrument, a block-like body member ofrelatively thin construction, recessed in one of its thinner faces, andprovided with a cavity in its op posite face, the recess being providedwith two or more bridge-seating channels, a neck extension for said bodymember, a head at the end of said neck and keys therein, a tailpiece atthe other end of said body member, a bridge supported selectively in oneof said channels, strings connected with said keys and tail-piece andpassing over said bridge, in position to be fingered on said neck, achinpiece provided with a tongue having a slidable connection with theend of said body member, and means for holdingsaid tongue in adjustedpositions.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

EDWIN H. BERGH.

